Abandoned in Crisis: Mozambique’s Humanitarian Need Reaches Breaking Point

Image Credit, NRC

The humanitarian crisis in Mozambique has escalated dramatically, prompting the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to suspend much of its critical aid work. The country’s mounting crises—violent conflict, acute hunger, and relentless climate disasters—have left millions struggling, while aid agencies face worsening access challenges that prevent life-saving assistance from reaching those in dire need.

According to Ulrika Blom, NRC’s country director for Mozambique, the crisis has intensified to the point where safety for field workers can no longer be assured. Blom expressed profound concern over the situation, highlighting that over a million people in the country’s north are already displaced by violent conflict, and a staggering 700,000 are experiencing severe hunger across the nation. In addition, climate disasters strike yearly, compounding the challenges Mozambicans face as essential services break down and the threat of malnutrition looms.

The NRC’s decision to suspend many operations follows an increase in violence that has made it perilous for aid workers to carry out their mission. Blom noted that as field movements become increasingly dangerous, displaced families are at risk of losing access to food, shelter, and other essential aid, which will push them into even more severe insecurity. For Mozambique’s most vulnerable, these disruptions to daily life create an environment with few avenues for safety or relief.

Blom has issued an urgent call for all parties involved in the conflict to prioritize the safety of civilians and allow humanitarian organizations unrestricted access to reach those in desperate need. She emphasized the need for humanitarian space to ensure aid workers can carry out their work impartially and effectively in areas of intense need.

The crisis in Mozambique has been compounded by the chronic underfunding of international aid. With only 38% of this year’s funding goals met, organizations like the World Food Programme have already been forced to cut back food assistance. This financial gap, Blom warned, only amplifies the despair and instability that Mozambicans endure daily. In light of these dire circumstances, she urged the international community to address this longstanding humanitarian disaster with the urgency and resources it deserves, stressing that the people of Mozambique urgently need global attention and support.

Without sustained humanitarian aid, Mozambique’s situation will continue to deteriorate, leaving millions at risk and trapped in a cycle of conflict, hunger, and displacement.